Labour has surged clear of Reform in the latest UK polling whilst also opening up a clear lead at the top of the polls.

In the lates YouGov polling carried out for Sky News and the Times, Labour saw a three-point jump in support, taking them to 27%.

This puts them four points ahead of the Conservatives who hold onto the second place they took from Reform last week, and sit on 23%.

And there in third is Reform. Despite a one point increase in support, they remain behind the Tories and are a distant five points adrift of Andy Burnham’s Labour.

The Lib Dems and Greens are in fourth and fifth respectively after both parties suffered a one-point drop.

In the wake of the party conferences of recent weeks, there have been some big fluctuations in polling from week to week as parties receive more coverage.

But now that conference season is over, the polls may steady out this week.

Of course, this is all ahead of John Healey’s Autumn Budget next week, which will be the first of Andy Burnham’s government.

What this does and doesn’t contain will likely have a significant impact on the polls.

For now though, Labour have firmly cemented their position at the top of the polls, with a clear lead over their right-wing rivals.

Meanwhile Reform might have to start worrying about whether they can even get back ahead of the Tories, let alone challenge Labour for top spot.

Labour Open Up Five-Point Polling Lead Over Reform UK as Farage Suffers Another Setback

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has suffered another setback in the latest opinion polling after Labour opened up a five-point lead, raising fresh questions about the party’s ability to maintain the political momentum it enjoyed over the past year.

The latest YouGov figures, commissioned by The Times and Sky News, showed Labour increasing its support to 27 per cent, putting the party five points ahead of Reform UK, which fell to 22 per cent. The Conservatives were in second place on 23 per cent, leaving Farage’s party trailing both of its main political rivals.

The findings represent a significant change in Britain’s political landscape. Just months earlier, Reform had been enjoying considerable success in opinion polls and appeared capable of challenging Labour for the position of the country’s most popular political party.

However, the latest figures suggest that the political momentum has shifted, with Labour strengthening its position while Reform faces growing questions about its leadership, organisation and ability to turn public support into lasting electoral success.

For Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the figures provide an encouraging indication that Labour’s political recovery is continuing. For Farage, they represent another warning that his party cannot take its previous polling success for granted.

Labour Moves Ahead as Reform Falls Behind

The latest YouGov survey revealed a clear difference between the performances of Labour and Reform.

Labour increased its support by three percentage points to reach 27 per cent, while Reform fell by three points to 22 per cent.

The Conservatives remained on 23 per cent, placing them between the two parties.

The Liberal Democrats and Greens were both on 11 per cent.

The figures were particularly significant because Labour’s improvement came after a period in which the party had struggled to maintain public confidence.

At the beginning of 2026, Labour’s polling position had been considerably weaker, with the party averaging around 18 per cent during the first half of the year.

Its recent recovery therefore represents a substantial improvement compared with its earlier performance.

Reform, meanwhile, has found it increasingly difficult to maintain the level of support that previously allowed it to dominate national political discussions.

Although a single opinion poll cannot establish a permanent political trend, the latest figures provide another indication that Britain’s political competition is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

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How Labour Managed to Recover Its Political Momentum

Labour’s improved polling position has been linked to its attempts to reconnect with voters who had become frustrated with the direction of the government.

Burnham has sought to establish a new political identity focused on economic growth, public services, the cost of living and rebuilding confidence in government.

His approach has included proposals for longer-term economic planning and changes to public services.

The party has also attempted to attract voters who previously moved towards the Liberal Democrats and Greens because they were dissatisfied with Labour’s direction.

The latest polling suggests that some of those voters may be reconsidering their political preferences.

However, Labour’s recovery should not be confused with widespread satisfaction with the government.

Public concerns about taxation, housing, the NHS and economic conditions remain significant.

Even with an improved polling position, Labour faces the challenge of demonstrating that its promises can translate into meaningful improvements in people’s everyday lives.

If the government fails to deliver, the party could once again face declining support.

Reform’s Earlier Polling Dominance Begins to Fade

For Nigel Farage, the latest figures are particularly uncomfortable because Reform had previously enjoyed a substantial polling advantage.

The party’s success was largely built around dissatisfaction with traditional political parties and its promise to deliver radical changes to Britain’s political system.

Immigration, national sovereignty, taxation and criticism of the political establishment have remained central to its message.

Farage successfully attracted voters who believed that Labour and the Conservatives had failed to address their concerns.

At several points, Reform appeared to be establishing itself as the main challenger to the government.

However, political momentum is difficult to maintain.

The party has faced growing scrutiny over its policies, internal organisation and the conduct of some individuals associated with its wider political movement.

These controversies have provided opponents with opportunities to question whether Reform is sufficiently prepared to become a party of government.

The latest poll raises another important question: can Farage maintain public support when his party is no longer benefiting from the same level of political momentum?

Controversies Continue to Create Problems for Farage

Reform has faced several difficult moments in recent months.

The party has been criticised over controversial comments made by individuals associated with its political organisation, while questions have also been raised about its internal procedures and campaign management.

The Electoral Commission previously imposed a £2,187.50 fine following four breaches of electoral imprint requirements.

Although the penalty was relatively small, it generated criticism of the party’s administrative standards.

Farage has also faced questions about the organisation of Reform’s economic policy launch after a poorly attended Westminster event attracted considerable attention.

The Reform leader blamed staff incompetence for the disappointing turnout.

More recently, Farage’s explanation for missing an important Budget debate generated another political controversy.

He claimed that he had stayed away because he feared becoming involved in another physical altercation following a disagreement over his parliamentary seating arrangements.

The House of Commons subsequently explained that his prayer card had been removed because it did not display the required valid date stamp.

Political opponents questioned why he had not simply followed the normal parliamentary procedures or arranged another seat.

Although these individual controversies do not necessarily explain the movement in polling figures, they have contributed to the wider debate about Reform’s political organisation and leadership.

Conservatives Also Benefit From Reform’s Difficulties

The latest figures contain another important development for the Conservative Party.

Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives have been attempting to rebuild their reputation following their defeat in the 2024 general election.

For much of the past year, the party appeared to be losing voters to Reform, particularly among those who wanted a tougher approach to immigration and national sovereignty.

However, the latest survey placed the Conservatives on 23 per cent, one point ahead of Reform.

This represents an important change from the period when Farage’s party appeared to have displaced the Conservatives as the dominant political force on the right.

Badenoch has attempted to convince voters that the Conservatives remain a credible alternative, highlighting their parliamentary experience and proposing changes to taxation, public spending and government policy.

The party may now see an opportunity to attract former Conservative supporters who had previously moved towards Reform.

However, rebuilding the Conservative vote will require more than benefiting from Farage’s difficulties.

Badenoch must demonstrate that her party has a convincing political programme and that it has learned lessons from its previous electoral defeat.

Why the Five-Point Gap Matters

The five-point difference between Labour and Reform is significant because it illustrates how quickly political support can change.

A year earlier, Reform had enjoyed a substantial polling advantage over Labour.

The latest survey suggests that the positions of the two parties have changed considerably.

However, opinion polls must be interpreted carefully.

They measure voting intentions at a particular moment rather than predicting the precise outcome of a future general election.

The results can also vary depending on the pollster, sample size, methodology and timing of the survey.

For example, subsequent YouGov polling conducted on 1 and 2 November placed Labour on 26 per cent, the Conservatives on 24 per cent and Reform on 21 per cent.

That survey showed a much narrower two-point gap between Labour and Reform, demonstrating that individual polls can produce different results.

Nevertheless, broader polling averages published in early November continued to place Labour ahead of Reform.

The overall picture suggests that the political competition remains fluid, with all three major parties competing for voters who are dissatisfied with the existing political situation.

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What Does This Mean for Nigel Farage?

Farage now faces the challenge of rebuilding confidence in Reform UK.

His political success has been based on his ability to attract voters who feel disconnected from traditional Westminster politics.

However, transforming that support into a sustainable political movement requires a much stronger organisational structure.

Reform must demonstrate that it can recruit capable candidates, maintain discipline within the party and present detailed policies that can withstand scrutiny.

It must also convince voters that its economic proposals are realistic and financially sustainable.

These challenges become particularly important when a party begins presenting itself as a potential governing alternative.

Farage cannot rely indefinitely on criticism of Labour and the Conservatives.

He must demonstrate that Reform has practical solutions to the problems facing Britain.

The latest polling figures suggest that the party has work to do if it wants to restore the momentum it previously enjoyed.

Labour Must Not Become Complacent

Despite the improvement in Labour’s polling position, Burnham’s government still faces significant challenges.

The cost of living remains a major concern for households, while pressure on public services continues to influence political debate.

The NHS, housing shortages, immigration and economic growth are all issues that could shape future voting intentions.

Labour’s improved position may provide the government with some political breathing space, but it does not guarantee continued public support.

The experience of the past year has demonstrated how quickly opinion polls can change.